Grant Helps Charlevoix and Emmet Counties Prepare for Natural Disasters

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 29, 2022

NORTHWEST LOWER, MI – A $66,000 federal grant will help Charlevoix and Emmet counties prepare for natural disasters. Networks Northwest received the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The pre-disaster mitigation grant is for the update of the natural hazard mitigation plans for Charlevoix and Emmet counties. During the planning project period, Networks Northwest’s Community Development team will work in partnership with each county to prepare the plans.

Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of natural disasters. Creating and updating hazard mitigation plans follows a defined process of identifying hazards within the community, analyzing the risks posed by those hazards, establishing priorities for addressing those risks, and choosing specific actions that will mitigate those risks. Under the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA), which amended the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, state and local governments are required to adopt a state or local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) approved by FEMA in order to qualify for federal hazard mitigation project grants. Hazard mitigation plans are valid for five years from the date of FEMA approval.

Networks Northwest began coordinating with Charlevoix and Emmet counties in July 2022 and will conclude in May 2025 when final plans will be submitted to FEMA for approval and each county has had an opportunity to review and adopt the plan. Local residents and stakeholders are being asked to provide feedback to help with the updates of the natural hazard mitigation plans. A survey to collect input for the Charlevoix County plan is available at nwm.org/CharlevoixHazardPlan. The survey for Emmet County will be available in October.   

For any questions regarding the 5-year natural hazard mitigation plans please contact Jennifer Neal, Community Planner, at Networks Northwest at Jennifer.neal@networksnorthwest.org.